Metallic railway-tie.



W. H. HAWS.

METALLIC RAILWAY TIE. 1 1 7 7, Patented Apr.11, 1916.

2 SHEETS SHEET 1- mus, INVENTOR WITNESSES W. H. HAWS.

METALLIC RAILWAY TIE1 APPLICATlON 1111 1 01 13. 1915.

Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2 llllllnlllulfll'lll' W1 TNESSES:

WILLIAM H. HAWS, or JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

METALLIC RAILWAY-T E.

Specification of Letters'lPatent.

Application filed November 13, 1915. Serial No. 61,300.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM a citizen of the United States, residing at Johnstown, in the county of Cambria and- State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Metallic Railway-Ties, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved metallic tie for railways, and has for an object,

to provide a relatively light, simply con structed tie, comprising but few parts, which are so formed and assembled as torproduce a device which may be easily and economi cally manufactured.

Another object of this invention is to pro vide a tie with fastening devices for engaging the rails, which will securely hold the rails to the tie, and will not become loosened or detached by vibration, and which may be taken up or tightened incident to wear, contraction, or the settling of the rails and the tie.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tie which supports the rail substantially flat upon the road bed, so as to admit considerable clearance between the tops of the cars passing over the rails and bridges,

tunnels, roofs of mines, and the like, so that.-

the railway may be introduced into relatively small spaces where ordinary railways cannot be used, on account of the height of the rails above the road bed.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be clearly brought out in the following description of the present preferred embodiment of this invention, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a top plan view of the improved tie, having rails secured thereto.v Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the tie and rail, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse sec tion, taken through one of the fastening devices and the tie on the line H of Fig. 1, showing the abutting ends of adjacent rails secured in place. Fig. 5 is a transverse section through one of the fastening devices on the line 55 of Fig. 1. Fig.6 is a transverse section through one of the abutments or guides of the fastening device, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a detail 1 bottom plan view of the bed plate of the tie.g

H. Haws,

Patented Apr. 11, 1916. r

Fig. 8 is a detail under side perspective view of one of the, abutments or guides employed. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the spreading pin or wedge, showing the permanent locking means therefor. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of the spreading pin.

showing the adjustable locking means there for. Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view of the locking key for cooperation with the spreading pin of Fig. 10. f

Referring to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views, 15 designates the bed plate or body of the tie,

' which is. formed of metal, has a substantial width, and is of the standard length'of a tie. This bed plate 15 is provided with depending flanges 16 adapted to engage in the.

her of each pair is preferably permanently secured in place prior to the placing of the tie beneath the rails, while the other member of each pair is adapted for adjustment against the rails after the tie is in position. For each rail engaging member there is provided in the bed plate 15, a slot 17. These slots 17 are arranged in slightly spaced relation, and in pairs, near the opposite ends of the bed plate, as clearly shown in Fig. 7. The slots 17 extend transversely across the upper face of the bed plate to a point nearv pending web 21 of which is adapted for insertion downwardly through the slot 17 and is ofslightly less length than the body of the guide'20. I

The web 21 is of such length that the ends thereof pass freely through the recesses 18. The ends of the web 21 are transversely re cessed as at 22 to receive the shoulders 19 at the ends of the slot 17 and-to provide retaining lugs 23 for engagement against the under side of thebed plate 1 5. As shown to advantage in Figs. 3 and 8, each abutment or. guide is shouldered in itsouter side as at 2a, which shoulder faces downwardly and is adapted to seat upon the top of the bed plate 15 along the edge of the slot 17. lhus, the abutment or guide is held in up right position. The inner edge of the guide 20 is provided with an undercut slot 25 for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

The rail engaging member also comprises a claniping'plate 26 of substantially T form in cross section. The depending web 2? of the clamping plate is shorter than the body of the plate for free passage through the recesses 18 and the slot 17, and is transversely recessed or slotted at its opposite ends to receive therethrough the shoulders 19 at the corners of the slot 17. The ends of the web 27 are provided with lugs 28 engaging the underside of the bed plate 15 to retain the clamping plate from lifting upward. The innerside of the clamping plate 26 is provided with an undercut slot 29, corresponding to the slot 25 in the abutment or guide member 20, and extending substantially in parallelism and in spaced relation thereto. The outer side of the clamping plate has an overhanging flange 30 adapted to seat upon the rail base, the flange 30 being of any desired width and configuration to engage more or less of the rail which seats upon the bed plate.

For the purpose of binding the clamping plate 26 against the rail, a spreading pin 31 is employed, the same being positioned between the abutment or guide 20 and the clamping plate 26, and being of slightly wedge form whereby to separate the clamping plate 26 from the abutment 20 and bind the clamping plate against the base of the rail. This spreading pin is of substantially inverted T shape in cross section, the T head fitting in the undercut slots 25 and 29 of the abutment 20 and the clamping plate 26 respectively. The pin 31 fits between the adjacent sides or edges of the members 20 and 26 and as the body portion of the pin 31 is wedge shaped, or is tapered from end to end, it bears against the adjacent inner edges of the members and forces the same apart. The abutment 20, as shown in Fig. 3, lies against the outer side of the slot 17 and cannot be moved outwardly. The slot 17, however, is enlarged laterally to extend appreciably beneath the rail base to admit of the movement of the members 26 toward and from each other to accommodate rail bases of various widths. Thus, the clamping plate 26 of each of the rail engaging members is free to lYlOVG forwardly toward the rail, and as the pin 31 works against the fixed abutment or 'uide 20, the clamping plate 26 alone is moved and caused to bind against the rail base. As the clamping plate 26 is held from upward movement by the lugs 28, which bear against the under side from withdrawal.

of the bed plate 15, and as the lugs 28 are relatively narrow, as shown, the top of the clamping plate 26 is tilted inwardly toward the rail base, by the action or the pin 31 and caused to bind downwardly as well as inwardly upon the rail base.

The spreading pin 31 is of a length slightly greater than that of the members 20 and 26, and is adapted to extend at its opposite ends beyond-the longitudinal edges of the bed plate 15. he reduced end of the pin 31 is provided with means for holding it in position after it has been driven into place. As shown in Figs. 1 and 9, this retaining means for the pin 31 is in the form of a key 32 projecting from the head of the member 31, and being coextensive therewith. The key which is of tongue shape, is flat and is adapted to be bent, by blows of a hammer or the like, down into the position shown in Fig. 4 for engagement with the edge of the bed plate 15 to hold the pin 31 This form of key 32 is what may be termed in the present instance, a permanent fastener for the spreading pin 31. The key 32 is adapted for use in positioning one of the rail engaging members of each pair prior to the application of the tie to the rails, so that a fixed gage may be measured upon the tie before it is placed in the road bed.

After the tie is in position, and the rail is placed thereon beneath the overhanging flange 30 of the corresponding rail engaging member of each pair, the opposed members 20 and 26 are inserted through the opposite slots 17, and the opposite spreading pin 31 is driven into position. The spreading pin 31 is driven in until the rail engaging members tightly bind against the opposite edges of the rail base so as to firmly hold the rail upon the tie. After the desired adjustment has been made, a locking key 33 is adjusted to hold the second spreading pin in place. As shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 10, the projecting reduced end of the spreading pin 31 is provided in its body portion and in its flange or head, with registering transverse and vertical slots or recesses 341-, spaced apart longitudinally of the pin a suflicient distance to take up various adjustments of the pin. The key 33 is of inverted U shape and is adapted to be inserted downwardly into the slots 34:, and is of such width as to abut the adjacent extremities of the members 20 and 26. The lower ends 35 of the key 33 extend below the spreading pin 31 and against the adjacent edge of the bed plate 15. These ends 35 are adapted to be clenched or turned inwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, to prevent the lifting of the key 33 out of the slot 3 1. Thus, when the pin 31 is driven into place, the slotted end thereof projects laterally from the tie, and after the adjustment is secured, the key 33 is dropped downwardly through the innermost exposed slot 34:, and

is clenched as above described so as to pre- Of course, it is understood that the spreading pins 31 may all be provided with the locking-means 33 and 34, or these spread ing pins may all be provided upontheir reduced ends with the tongues In the.

flat bed plate havingv a pair of slots. ad-- use the tongues 32 on the pins 31 of the ber arranged. over each. slot'ifor engagement presentinstance, however, it is preferred to permanent rail engaging member's'of each.

pair, and to use the key 33 and slots 34 in the opposite member of each pair to take up the various adjustments required in setting= the rails, and also, during use,.to take up all looseness incident'to the settling. of the rails.

thus lengthenedbr advanced. uiThe ifastene;

ing member is composediof but threeiparts,

the abutment; ithei cl-arnpingplate, and. the

spreading:pin-.-:v .These-parts arelof such construction. that they-umay be quickly assembled upon 171161-1301) of the: bed pl'ate and may 5 be quickly adjusted :to engage the: rail.

l/Vhatiis'claimedzis:+-v l. A metalli-ci frai-lroad .tie,1 acomprising :a

j acentweach end,- and arail engaging 51118111- mentya movable clamping plate, the abut- "mentnand the-:clamping plate each having a andtie, theeXpansion-and contraction of the I parts, and the like.

It is, of course, understood that this improved tie may be used in connection with steam or electric roads, or maybe used in smaller railway construction, such as for mine use. tie is of particular advantage :in that the rails lie substantially. flat upon the ground.

or road bed, and thus a greater-clearance is had-between thetops of the cars. and the roof of the mine. Also, the railroad may be introduced into relatively low: tunnels, and beneath other'structures where the relatively high ties preclude the use of the railroad.

The outer side of the spreading pin 31 is slightly inclined to produce the taper. of

.the pin, and the adjacent inner edge. or

In the latter use this improved 1 side of the abutment 20 is correspondingly inclined to bear uniformly against the inclined-side of the pin. 31, and .thus effect the uniform pressure of the clamping plate:

26 throughout its entire length.

It is, of'course, understood that various modifications and combinations may be made with respect to the above described parts, such changes being restricted only by the-scope of the following claims.

In the drawings, thereis shown the abutting ends of adjacent rails restingacross: the improved tie. It will be noted that no a fish plates, bolts or other rail jointdevices are employed for-holding thesemeeting ends of the rails together; Theconstruction of the rail engaging members is such that the clamping plates throughout their length against the: bases of the rails and thus securely hold, the

same together. In railways, such. as are used in mines, and wherein it 1s necessary to gradually advance the railway as the engage vuniformly work proceeds, the tie of this invention is particularly useful in that the tie may be placed across the extremities of the rails and when necessary additional ties may be inserted'beneath the opposite or outer-ends The members of the clamping members. inaythen be tightened andthe railway is -;ing. a through -sa1d slot, retainlng lugs carried upontheclower edge=of the web forpassage for securing said spreading mentmandusaidclamping plate to spread the same-apart and secure. the webs in the slots,-wand to bind the clamping plate against the: adjacent side of a 'rail.

In aimetallic' railroad tie, abed plate ==having a transverse slot in the upper-side "an abutment 1 extending..-=transthereof, versely across the top of the plateand havdepending .web for engagement through the :slot and adapted to engage the under side of'said bed plate-t0 hold the abutmentin place, a clamping plate for engagement over the base of a rail and having a depending web passing down througlnsaid slot, retaining lugs on the web of said:clamping plate to engage the under surface.of said bed plate, and a spreading.:pin-- slidable' across the top .of the bed plate and engaging between said abutment and said. clamping plate to move the latter againstthe rail base.

3. In a metallic tie, a bed. plate adapted tobe counter-sunk in a road bed, and pairs ofrail engaging members. at the opposite ends of said bed plate, each of said rail en-I gaging members, comprising an abutment detachably mounted on the upper face ofthe slidably bedplate,- --a clamping plate mounted on the'bed plate and movable towardand from sair abutment, and a spreading key interposed between the abutment and the clamping plate for binding the latter against'the'base of a rail.

4-. In a metallic tie,'a bed plate, an abutment deta'c'hably fixed upon the bed plate,

a clamping plateslidably mounted on the bed plate and having an overhanging flange for engagement with the baseof a rail, a spreading pin movable between said abutment and said clamping plate, and .means pin in position when adjusted.

5. In a-railroadtie, a flatplat'e adapted to restwuponthe'road bed, pairs of spaced apart abutments mounted upon the upper face of said plate, clamping plates slidably mounted upon said bed plate inwardly of said abutments and adapted for engagemlent with the opposite sides of a rail, spreading pins interposed between the abutments and the clamping plates for binding the latter against the rails, and keys on said spreading pins forv locking the same in adjusted position.

6. In a railroad tie, a flat plate adapted to be embedded in a road bed, an abutment, an interlocking web on said abutment for engagement with said bed plate to detachably hold the. abutment across the upper face thereof, a clamping plate for engagement with -a rail, an interlocking web on said clamping plate for slidable engagement with said bed plate to guide the clamping plate over the upper face of the bed plate, a spreading pin slidably mounted between the abutment and the clamping plate adapted to separate the same, and means for securing said spreading pin from withdrawal when adjusted.

7. A metallic tie, comprising a bed plate having a transversely extending slot in the upper face thereof and having a recess at each end of the slot, intermediate said end, to provide an elongated passage through the middle of the slot, and contracted openings at the opposite sides of the slot, an abutment seated on the upper face of said plate and having a web depending into said slot and provided with endwise extending lugs spaced beneath the abutment and adapted for engagement through the recesses, a rail clamping plate seated on top of said bed plate and having a web projecting down through said slot and endwise extending lugs on the Web spaced from the rail clamping plate, and a spreading member adapted for engagement between the abutment and the rail clamping plate to move the same apart and bind their respective webs in the opposite sides of the slot.

8. A metallic tie comprising a fiat plate adapted to be countersunk in a road bed, and pairs of rail engaging members mounted across said bed plate near the opposite ends thereof, said rail engaging members each comprising a detachable abutment extending across the bed plate, and having an-undercut slot in its inner edge, a clamp ing plate slidably mounted on the bed plate for engagement with a rail and having an undercut slot in its inner edge, and a spreading pin interposed between said abutment and said clamping plate, and having lateral flanges for engagement in said undercut slots whereby to hold the spreading pin from upward displacement.

9. In a metallic railroad tie, a bed plate having a transverse slot in the upper face thereof, the bed plate alsov having recesses at the ends of the slot and communicating with the slot intermediate each end thereof to provide elongations of the slot, an abutment adapted to seat upon the upper face of the bed plate, and having a depending web for engagement through the slot, lugs projecting longitudinally from the lower end of said web for passage through the recesses and for engagement beneath the under side of said bed plate laterally of the recesses, a clamping plate movable over the upper face of said bed plate and having a depending web for engagement through said slot, retaining lugs on the lower end of said web for passage through said recesses and for engagement against the under side of said bed plate laterally of said recesses, and a spreading pin interposed between said abutment and said clamping plate to separate the same and retain said lugs out of register with said recesses.

10. In a metallic railway tie, a bed plate having a transverse slot therein and recesses intermediate the ends ofthe slot, an abutment extending across said bed plate, a clamping plate extending across said bed plate, said abutment and said clamping plate each having a depending web for engagement through the middle portion of said slot and said recesses, the webs being transversely slotted at their ends whereby to ad mit of the passage of the webs into the reduced sides of the slot, the lower portions of the webs below said transverse slots engaging against the under side of said bed plate to retain the abutment and the clamping plate from upward movement, and means engaging said abutment and said clamping plate for spreading the same apart to hold said webs in the reduced sides of the slot, and to move said clamping plate inwardly.

11. In a metallic railroad tie, a bed plate, an abutment extending transversely across the bed plate, a clamping member movable toward and from the abutment, a spreading pin interposed between said abutment and said clamping member and having an eX- tension upon the forward end thereof, said extension having a longitudinally spaced apart row of registering transversely and vertically extending slots, and an inverted U-shaped flat key adapted for engagement in any one of said slots and for engagement flat against the side of the bed plate and the ends of the abutment and the clamping member, whereby to hold the spreading pin in any adjusted position.

12. In a metallic railway tie, a bed plate having a transverse slot in the upper face thereof, the slot being formed with an intermediate elongated portion, a pair of members adapted to abut upon the upper face of said bed plate, and having depending webs for engagement through the elongated portion of the slot, said webs having transverse recesses in their ends whereby said webs may be spread apart into the opposite reduced sides of the slot, and a spreading member engaging said first members to separate the same.

13. In a railway tie, a bed plate a pair of rail-clamping members mounted upon each end of said bed plate, each of said members comprising a pair of movable parts, a spreading pin adjustable between each pair of parts, a permanent key secured to the spreading pin of a corresponding clamping member of each pair, and a detachable and adjustable key secured to the spreading pin 0f the other clamping member of each pair.

14. In a railway tie, a bed plate, a pair of rail-clamping members on each end of the bed plate, each rail clamping member comprising two movable parts, a spreading pin between the parts, a permanent key for the spreading pin of a corresponding clamping member of each pair adapted for adjustment prior to the positioning of the tie beneath the rails, and an adjustable key for the remaining clamping member of each pair adapted for adjustment subsequent to the securement of the rails to the tie.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. HAWVS.

Witnesses o J. W. Bush, J OHN A. JAMES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

